Asia Cup 2014: India's top captains and what Virat Kohli can learn from them

Sourav Ganguly

There is a strong feeling among close observers of Indian cricket that Ganguly brought to Indian cricket something that had not existed before he took the reigns. I have thought long and hard to define that something: aggression, youth, hunger, team spirit are certainly contenders. However, the specific aspect that I think defined Ganguly as a personality, as a leader which left a deep imprint on successive generations of Indian cricketers was arrogance.

I mean the word to be a virtue and not in a pejorative sense. May it be his bare-bodied heroics when India chased down 325 runs in the Natwest final of 2002 or making Steve Waugh wait at the toss, Ganguly earned at every step his popular nickname of “The Bengal Tiger” by virtue of his ferocious assertiveness. He would never leave a challenge unanswered.

Sourav Ganguly was an aggressive captain

He fostered a team for India’s 2003 World Cup campaign that wasn’t typical. There was batting genius as there always was but he added youthful energy and enthusiasm to it, projected a united front and many remember the tradition of the hurdle that began during that epoch.

India’s fielding drastically improved under Ganguly’s captaincy and one could see what that little change of attitude could bring to a cricketing side. India went all the way to the finals in the tournament only falling at the final hurdle but that World Cup has left such unforgettable memories for Indian fans that I personally don’t rate it anything less that the eventual triumph in 2011.

What Kohli can derive from Ganguly, and in a sense which he already imbibed being of that generation that grew up inspired by that 2003 side, is that ferociousness with which a united Indian team asserted itself over its opponents. There was a distinct feeling in that epoch that India had lost its inferiority complex, especially overseas, and that they were second to none. Kohli has Ganguly’s natural aggression and hopefully he’ll take his spiritual mentor’s legacy forward.

Rahul Dravid

The spell-binding reign of Sourav Ganguly had come to a dismal halt. Ganguly’s best years with the bat were past him post 2005-06 and Dravid took up the mantle from thereon. The stark contrast between the personalities couldn’t be over-emphasized. If Ganguly was bashful, Dravid was composed. If Ganguly was stinging fire, then Dravid was the subtle but sublime force of water.

The original Mr. Cricket, India’s most consistent batsman in the last few years, was the natural choice for the job given Tendulkar’s reluctance to play the part. Dravid had proved what a team-player he was when he took the gloves for the side during the 2003 World Cup allowing the side to have greater resources.

Dravid’s outstanding example as a leader was that he lead by example. His stats tell the story that he never suffered with his batting inspite of the uneasy crown of captaincy as Ganguly and Azhar had suffered. It is perhaps not recognized enough but Dravid led India to historic Test victories overseas in South Africa and England continuing India’s rise as a force that functioned beyond the sub-continent.

The image that left a lasting memory in my mind when it comes to Dravid’s reign is when he waved the Indian flag at the Wanderers after India’s historic first Test victory on South African soil. However, India’s miserable exit from the 2007 World Cup overshadowed his legacy as a captain and hopefully history will be able to look beyond it.

The outstanding aspect that Kohli needs to derive from Dravid’s reign is his ability to lead from the front, as well as his focus and dedication towards his own craft. India do not wish to carry 10 players and a captain but 11 players on the field. Kohli’s batting is arguably India’s greatest asset in the absence of MS Dhoni and he must ensure that captaincy does not become a burden on his batting abilities. Moreover, Kohli will not find a better role model when it comes to conduct on and off the field.

MS Dhoni

Enough has been said about the leadership skill of MS Dhoni. The man with the midas touch, epitome of composure and a performer under pressure par excellence. Dhoni has led India to three major international trophies which is an achievement unparalleled in Indian cricketing history. He has given India more happiness than any other Indian captain and for that only, I count him India’s greatest cricket captain ever.

The complexities of critical assessment however reveal something else. Dhoni’s record in the highest format of the game overseas is deplorable. One can argue that he has had the best resources India ever produced but still failed to prevail on that count. The debate will continue.

Dhoni took over the Indian side when Indian cricket was in shambles and honestly nobody gave much of a thought to an inaugural World T20. The stalwarts of Indian cricket had voluntarily excused themselves and Dhoni’s underdog team went all the way and with such aplomb that it engendered the 2011 World Cup triumph.

I see an obvious connection between the two events even though the duration of five years involved a rigorous, meticulous process of team-building. Dhoni walked out in the critical final when the game was even and smashed the game in India’s favour. What more can you demand from a leader? Dhoni’s history will reserve choice praise for him.

Kohli can derive so much from a leader of Dhoni’s class. The manner in which he conducts himself in pressure situations is something that wasn’t matched by world-winning leaders (Ricky Ponting for instance). His character on and off the field is spotless. He backs his players and makes sure that they have maximum chances to prove their potential. He hasn’t let the burden of captaincy put any kind of pressure on his batting abilities. Kohli will be facing an uphill task when trying to emulate him, the closer he gets to that task the better for India.